Whitney, Sislo spark Devils to victory over Hershey

Joe Whitney and Mike Sislo scored two goals each and the Albany Devils held off the Hershey Bears 6-4 today in front of 3,999 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Matt Anderson had two goals and an assist as the Devils won their second straight.

Whitney, who also scored twice Saturday night in a 5-3 victory at Binghamton, got one in each of the first two periods — both assisted by Phil DeSimone and Anderson — as Albany took a 4-2 lead.

Sislo, whose first goal came nine seconds into the second period, gave the Devils a three-goal cushion early in the third before Hershey struck by with goals by Casey Wellman and Ryan Stoa to get within one.

8 Responses

Go figure….our “home” team is getting hot away from the “Big A” while many STH of the A-Devils were in attendance in Newark for the “complimentary” game which was hardly complimentary and played like at times their minor league affiliate.

The turnout in AC has been less then great. If ALBANY’s team could play like this more often Albany easily would get 4000 on average, weekends I am sure would bring easily 6500+. Not quite the mid 1990s but back to where a market like Albany should be. I am hearing an AHL team is getting ready to land in a Upstate NY city, I hope it Glens Falls and not Utica as I am hearing!

It is amazing that they not only win more often on the road, but it appears that they are more offensively “gifted” there as well. It would be nice if this high-scoring version of the A-Devs played more often at the TUC. Too many painful games to watch at home for my liking over recent years. At least they are staying in the hunt of a playoff spot.

If this happens, maybe this becomes the rival we are missing. I would love to see a team stay in GF for selfish reasons (short drive to see road games), but the “rivalry” is weak right now. I know that it doesn’t help that the Phantoms stink (Devils most of the time as well)or that they have a “temp” tag on their head, but it just feels like any other game to me. I miss those Rats vs. Red Wings days. The latest version (Devils vs. Phantoms) never came close to the original. Utica is only about 40 miles further than GF to Albany. I know that it takes more than distance to create a rivalry, but the potential is there. It wasn’t the Baltimore Colts leaving in the middle of night to go to Indy, but we did take the Devils from them. Just trying to get some early “hate” going!!

According to the AHL stats, the Devils actually have scored more often at home (71 in 25 games, 2.84) than away (67 in 26 games, 2.58), although their road record is much better (9-10-0-6 home, 13-9-1-3 road).

However, if you count the Atlantic City games as away from home (the Devils have scored 16 goals in four games there, although Sunday was their first victory), they are averaging 2.62 goals at Times Union Center, 2.77 away from the TUC.

I don’t know what it all means. I just like playing with my calculator.

You may like playing with your calculator, but that is also the reporter in you making sure of the facts. My comment is based purely on perception and it appears that my hunch is correct (for TUC games). You certainly can’t blame it on trying to please the home crowd – which seems to be the common excuse for wacky conditions such as this. Just chalk it up to an oddity I guess, but the A-Devs can’t afford such luck in their efforts to develop a stronger fan base.

@Nifty: I had the same perception you did, that the Devils seem to score a lot more on the road (and, to me, Atlantic City feels like a road game).

What’s more distressing to Devils fans is that they don’t win enough at home. I recall that same issue two years ago, and it certainly doesn’t help attendance when they can’t win at home, no matter what the road record is.